Electric car sales in the USA reached their highest level in the second quarter of 2026 since the phase-out of the nationwide purchase incentive. The market saw a significant increase compared to the previous quarter, but remains far below the previous year's levels.Image: StellantisThe US electric car market regained momentum in the second quarter of 2026. According to data from Cox Automotive, a total of 247,226 battery-electric vehicles were sold between April and June. This represents a 14.2% increase compared to the first quarter. However, compared to the same quarter last year, sales still declined by 20.5%.The latest figures mark the strongest quarter since the nationwide electric vehicle purchase incentive expired in September 2025. According to Cox Automotive, the market is stabilising after the significant downturn caused by changes in subsidy policy. The market research firm highlights new model launches, state-level incentive programmes, and sustained consumer interest in electric vehicles as key drivers of this recovery.Tesla alone delivered 124,800 vehicles in the second quarter, accounting for well over half of all BEVs registered in the US. This represents a 6.4% increase in Tesla’s sales compared to the previous quarter. The Model Y remained the best-selling electric car in the US, with 84,863 units sold, followed by the Model 3 with 34,944 vehicles. Trailing behind were the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Toyota bZ4X, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E.Toyota, in particular, delivered a notable performance, according to media reports. The manufacturer sold 11,826 electric cars in the US during the second quarter, marking a 225% increase compared to the same period last year. This growth is attributed to its expanded electric vehicle lineup, including the bZ4X, the C-HR, and the bZ Woodland. For the year to date, Toyota ranks fourth in the US electric vehicle market, behind Tesla, Chevrolet, and Hyundai.Important: Despite the slight recovery, the market remains significantly below last year’s peak levels. In the final quarter before the purchase incentive expired, many buyers brought forward their purchases, driving sales to a record high of 437,487 electric cars. In the following quarter, sales plummeted by around 46%. Several manufacturers responded by delaying model launches or adjusting their electrification strategies.The latest quarterly figures suggest that the US market is settling at a stable level. At the same time, the framework conditions are increasingly diverging from those in other major automotive markets. While Europe and China continue to support the ramp-up of electromobility through regulatory measures or incentives, the US market is now more reliant on market-driven impulses following the withdrawal of the nationwide purchase incentive.BloombergNEF recently highlighted the differing developments across global markets: while the market researchers expect another record year for the global electric car market in 2026, they forecast a 19% decline in sales for the US compared to the previous year.insideevs.com